Rescue Dog Teaches Compassion To Mountainburg Students

A broken jaw, a dislocated shoulder and a past that most likely involved physical abuse can’t harness Nicolas.

A sweet-natured, brown-eyed shih tzu, Nicolas is a rescue dog now owned by Sandy Heiss, a counselor at Mountainburg Elementary School. Each day, Nicolas accompanies Heiss to work, where he is greeted with smiles and outstretched arms by the school’s students and staff. One staff member even feeds a few bites of Chinese food to the laid-back canine.

“Nick is kind of special around here at school,” said Heiss. “Nick gets to see all of the students. We walk down the halls, and Nick tries to walk along the pink line on the floor, just like the students do. And we go into classrooms and visit with students, too.”

Nicolas first entered Heiss’ busy life when co-worker and friend Pam Widders learned the dog needed a home while at 4 Paws in Van Buren.

“Pam kept after me, saying, ‘We have to find that dog a home,’” Heiss said while smiling. “I took him in and immediately took Nick to the vet, and then to Kitties & Kanines in Fort Smith. The people at Kitties & Kanines worked to rehabilitate Nick. He was in bad shape when we first saw him, and he needed a lot of care.”

Heiss said she lacks proof but is “pretty sure” Nicolas’ originally came from an abusive environment. A broken left jaw bone has deteriorated, forcing Nicolas’ tongue to hang almost motionless out of the left side of his mouth. A dislocated shoulder was fixed but, in Heiss’ words, the shoulder could slip out of place again.

“There’s indicators that Nick was possibly abused,” Heiss said as her voice lowered in volume. “He’s very afraid of the dark, and he wants to be right by me or near me at all times.”

As a result of Nicolas’ timid demeanor, Heiss taught her school’s students to slowly, quietly approach Nicolas, allowing the dog to smell their hands before the petting begins.

“The students know to get down on Nick’s level — to get down near or on the floor — and let Nick come to them,” Heiss said. “This is one way that Nick is teaching these students about social skills. Nick is helping teach compassion, showing the kids how to be empathetic, patient and perceptive.

“And Nick is showing the kids what it’s like to have someone or something bigger than you approach you,” she added. “It’s making the students learn about fear and being careful. It’s making them aware of things.”

Nicolas’ presence in the school also is promoting kindness to animals, as well as the importance of caring for rescue animals, Heiss said.

“Nick really is getting some of these kids to think that if they do want a pet, maybe it’s a good idea to find an animal — a rescue animal — who already needs a home,” she said.

The school’s students unanimously are embracing the message. By collecting change and asking for donations, they’ve raised $600 for Kitties & Kanines.

“We’re going to make a presentation to Kitties & Kanines later,” Heiss said. “I think it’s great that the children raised that much money.”

Naturally, Nicolas spends most of his time with Heiss, but he never forgets Widders.

Although Nicolas doesn’t seem to be in any pain, Heiss still wants to have his jaw fixed.

“I’m thinking about having people at the veterinary school at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater look at him and fix it,” she said. “I know the people at that school love a challenge, and it would be great if they could heal Nicolas’ jaw.”

Heiss then glanced down at Nicolas.

“Yes, Nick thinks that he’s providing all the therapy to the children here, but it really goes both ways,” she said while smiling. “The attention and kindness are good for Nick, too.”